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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-30-2001-ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AGENDA BOCC Work Session 7:30 p.m. August 30, 2001 Southern Human Services Center Chapel Hill, NC (7:30 - 8:45) 1. Determination of Specific Final Elements of Bond Questions (8:45 - 9:00) 2. Bond Education Committee -Agenda for September 5 Meeting (9:00 -- 9:45) 3. Discussion of School and County Capital Needs Not Included in November 2001 Band Proposal (9:45-10:00) 4. Greene Tract Work Group Update ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 30, 2001 ' Action Agenda Item No. 1 _SUBJECT: Determination of Specific Final, Elements of Bond Questions DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Budget PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Table -November 2001 Bond Package Development and Status INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link or Rod Visser, ext 2300 Donna Dean, ext 2151 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 9fi8-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To complete deliberations regarding specific elements and amounts to be included in each bond order for the November 6, 2001 bond referendum. BACKGROUND: At the June 25, 2001 regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed recommendations from the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force and introduced 5 bond orders for possible. inclusion in the November 6, 2001 bond referendum. These bond orders, and the maximum amounts to be issued, were as follows: Schools $47 million Parks, Recreation, and Open Space $20 million Senior Centers $ 4 million Low and Moderate Income Housing $ 4 million Land Acquisition $ 3 million The Board also indicated its intention to hold a bond referendum totaling $75 million, although the sum of the maximum amounts in the individual bond orders was $78 million. The Board's discussion was that an amount between $17 and $20 million would be included on the ballot for parks, recreation, and open space, and that up to $3 million might be included in a.separate ballot question regarding land acquisition. The question of whether the Board will adapt four or five bond orders is one of the key questions that the Board needs to decide so that actual adoption of the bond orders can take place at the September 4 regular meeting: The other key decisions remaining to be made involve the final amounts for the school and parks/recreation/open space bond questions that will be placed on the November ballot, and the specific amounts of band money earmarked for various school and parks/recreation/open space projects. The Board has already made formal decisions to include in the bond referendum $4 million for senior centers and $4 million for affordable housing. Tlie Board has also made a formal decision to include funding for two new elementary schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2 Schools district and one new middle school in the Orange County Schools district. The Board has not yet decided how much of the $47 million in school bonds will be allocated to these three new school construction projects. As the Board conducts its final deliberations regarding the projects for inclusion in the November 2001 bond referendum, it will be helpful to remember that the Board will have some flexibility to address a number of capital needs nat included`in the bond through other debt financing mechanisms. From the outset of the Capital Needs Advisory. Task Force process in March 2001, the BOCC has repeatedly indicated that there are more capital needs than can be addressed solely through general obligation bonds. By limiting the total bond referendum to $75 million, the Board has preserved additional debt capacity (through private placement loans, Certificates of Participation (COPs), etc:) of roughly $5 - $7 million per year for the next four years (based on assumptions of three annual bond sales of $25 million)., Additional debfi financing at those levels will still allow the County to stay within the Board's policy of maintaining annual debt service payments at 15 percent qr less of General Fund expenditures. During the third agenda item on this August 30 work session, fihe BOCC will have the opportunity to discuss in more detail those prajects that may be considered for alternafiive debt financing. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The issuance aver a period of several years of $75 million in new general obligation bonds, if approved by,the voters; will have an estimated cumulative maximum flax rate impact of 7.1 to 7.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation in order to retire the debt. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board decide fihe amount of each band order to be adopted at the September 4 regular meeting, and provide any other appropriate direction to staff. Compiled by Orange County Budget Office 8/2412001 November 2p01 Bond Package Development and Status Key: Yellow indicates while that the Board has confirmed the project's inclusion on the November 2001 Bond, the Commissioners need to decide the amount of funds to be included on the referendum 1. May 2001 3. June 25 Compon®nt Capital Needs Advisory Task 2. Jun® 2001 Manager's , 2001 BOCC 4. Status as of Force Scenario Approved August 21, 2001 Recommendation Bond Orders Affordable Housing 4,000;000 x,000,000 4,000,000 Senior Centers 4,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000 Land Acquisition 4,000,000 inc u e in Parkland & Open 3,000,000 S ace CHCCS - Renovations to Older Schools and Facilities 4,553,000 4,600,000 CHCCS -New Elementary School #9 13,556,000 13,250,000 Project confirmed amount undecide~ CHCCS -New Elementary School #10 14,349,000 13 250,000 Project confirmed ° ~ o ° , o ~ amount and®cidec ~ H C - igh Schoo pansioNPlanning for 6 000 000 0 ~ a c r~ New Hi h School , , ti OCS -New Middle School 20,000,000 18,500,000 Project confirmed amount undecldec OCS -Orange High School Renovations 950,000 950,000 OCS -Hillsborough Elementary and Central Office 3,032,000 1,450,000 Carrboro Greenway Development 750,000 ~ Carrboro Gymnasium Site Acquisition 250,000 ~ Smith Middle School Park 250,000 o Chapel Hill Greenway Development 1,000,000 °~ Q. [ Homestead Park Aquatics Center 3,500,000 oa $ Southern Community Park 2,000,000 a ~ N .`-xtl ca Cedar Grove District Park 1,210,000 a Efland-Cheeks Park (Phase II) 7'50,000 Fairview Park 850,000 Total $85,000,000 $75,000,000 $78,000,000 ORANGE couNTv BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 30, 2001 ,- Action Agenda Item No. 2 SUBJECT: Bond Education Committee -Agenda for September 5 Meetinc~__ DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, ext 2300 Committee Charge Draft September 5, 2001 Agenda TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Draft Committee Timetable Hillsborough 732-8181 Draft List ofi Subcommittee Staff Chapel Hill 9fi8-4501 Durham fi88-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To review materials and plans for the Bond Education Committee in preparation for Committee's first meeting on September 5, 2001. BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners appointed a citizens' Bond Education Committee to help develop and disseminate factual information about the capital needs that led to bond referenda in November 1988, November 1992, and November 1997. Over the last few months, the Board has created and appointed a Bond Education Committee in preparation for the November 2001 bond referendum. The Committee is comprised of interested citizens who will communicate to community groups, civic organizations, and voters in general about the needs that have led to the scheduling of a November 6, 2001 bond referendum for Orange County. Attached to this abstract is the charge to the Committee as approved by the BOCC at its June 25, 2001 regular meeting. Also attached is a draft agenda for the Committee's first meeting scheduled for September 5, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center. In addition to these materials, staff will also provide a preliminary PowerPoint presentation at the August 30 work session for BOCC review prior to the September 5 Committee meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the review of materials and plans for the Bond Education Committee and its first meeting. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review the attached information and provide any further direction to staff. CHARGE TO ORANGE COUNTY BOND EDUCATION COMIVIITTEE NOVEMBER 2001 BOND REFERENDUM -; + become familiar with the purposes of each of the bond orders: • become familiar with the projects expected to be addressed with bond funds • understand the community needs that led the Board of Commissioners to adopt each of the bond orders • develop appropriate informational materials that will address the bond orders • design and implement a campaign to distribute relevant factual information about the bands to Orange County citizens in the mast effective and efficient manner possible • design and implement a process for informational meetings with civic groups, non-profit agencies, neighborhood associations, and other interested parties in the community • ensure that equal access to factual information is provided to all individuals and groups, regardless of their position for or against any bond order • encourage all eligible voters to participate in the November 6 election SUGGESTED BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Bond Education Committee Steering Committee-- Senior Centers Subcommittee Recreation, & Open Ffordable Housing Subcommittee rmation & Out Subcommittee DRAFT ORANGE COUNTY BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 - 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. AGENDA 1. Welcome to the Committee Steve Halkiotis, Chair, Orange County Board of Commissioners Comments from Board of Commissioners 2. Review of the Committee Charge -- Steve Halkiotis 3. Overview of Bond Process -John Link, County Manager -With PowerPoint Presentation -County Staff a. Bond Referendum Components b. Structure of Subcommittees c. Staff Support.-- County and School System Roles d. Financing e. Preliminary Schedule 4. Subcommittee Discussions 5. Subcommittee Reports 6. Next Steps 3 7. Adjourn DRAFT TIMETABLE FOR 2001 ORANGE COUNTY BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE 6/25/01 BOCC confirms structure and charge for the Bond Education Committee 6/25 to 9/4/01 Invite Citizens to participate in Bond Education Committee 9/5/01 First Committee Meeting Establish~Subcommittee Memberships Share Tasks and Timetables 9/5/01 to 9/26/01 Educational, Materials including Frequently. Asked Questions (FAQ), Web Site/Electronic Media, Brochures and Vendors Developed 9/26/01 Meeting of Full Committee to Confirm Game Plan, Schedules, etc. Share Final Products of Educational .Campaign 10/17/01 Meeting of Full Committee (IF NECESSARY) 10/1/01 -11/5/01 Educational Campaign Presentations Newspaper Articles Bond Hotline Call-in Radio -- Television Phon-A-Thon Meetings of Subcommittees On An As Needed Basis Weeks of 9/10/01 9/17/01 10/1 /01 10/8/01 10/15/01 10/22/01 10/29/01 4 DRAFT ORANGE COUNTY 2001 BOND EDUCATION COMMITTEE I. STEERING COMMITTEE (Two Members of Board of Commissioners, Committee ChairlCo-Chairs, John Link) II. INFORMATION & OUTREACH SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD; Representative from each Bond Issue Subcommittee) Staff: Sharron Hinton, Buck Tredway, Kim Hoke, Karen Wallace-Megs, Beverly Blythe III. SCHOOLS SUBCOMMITTEE (Chair, TBD) Staff: Rod Visser, Ken Chavious, Donna Dean, OCS & CHCCS Staff IV. PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE (Chair, TBD) Staff: David Stancil, Bob Jones, Dianne Reid, Rich Shaw V. AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Chair, TBD) Staff: Tara Fikes VI. SENIOR CENTERS (Chair, TBD) Staff: Jerry Passmore, Pam Jones s VII. COUNTY LANDS Staff: David Stancil, Rich Shaw ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 30, 2001 ' Action Agenda Item No. 3 SUBJECT: Discussion of School and County Capital Needs Not Included in November 2001 Bond DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Budget PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Table -Needs Presented to Capital Needs Advisory Task Force INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link or Rod Visser, ext 2300 Donna Dean, ext 2151 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To discuss options for addressing various school and County capital needs that will not be funded by November 2001 general obligation bands. BACKGROUND: The first item on this August 30 work session agenda involves the Board's making a number of decisions related to specific bond questions to be included on the November 2001 ballot, and the amount of bond funding allocated to various capital projects. As the Board has noted throughout the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force process, there will be many school and County capital needs that cannot be addressed in full, or even in part, by general obligation (GO) bonds. Those needs include, but are not limited to: • School Renovation projects • Durham Technical Community College Satellite Campus • Justice Facilities • Orange Enterprises • Orange County Library • Various Parks and Open Space projects As a reference, the complete list of needs presented to, and evaluated by, the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force in Spring 2001 is attached for the Board's review and discussion. FINANCIAL IMPACT: If voters approve $75 million in GO bonds, and assuming those bonds are sold in three consecutive annual sales of $25 million each, the BOCC will have the flexibility to issue additional debt (through private placement loans, Certificates of Participation (COPs), etc.) of roughly $5 - $7 million per year for the next four years to address capital needs not met with GO bonds. Additional debt financing at those levels will allow the County to remain within z the Board's policy of maintaining annual debt service payments at 15 percent or less of General Fund expenditures. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss identified capital needs not funded fully or at all by general obligation bonds, and provide appropriate direction to the Manager and staff. N ~_ Compiled by Orang® County Budget Office 08/24/2001 Needs Presented to Capital Needs Advisory Task Force Final (shown in alphabetical order) Request Description Amount of Funding Requested Affordable blousing ~'~ throughouQ the County rdable Housing projects 14,000,000 Community College County match required to match construction funds from 4,000,000 the State County Facilities Construction of Phase 1 of the Justice Facility (located 6,000,000 ~ on Downtown Cam us in Hillsborou h .o ° Construction of a three-story addition to the Government 7 400 000 a, ,o Services Center , , ~ ~ Renovations of Planning and Ag Building and 475 000 ~ ~, construction of a Farmers Market , ~ c Renovations of Southern Human Services Conference 100,000 Center and rounds Total Level 1 Projects 13,975,000 ~ Construction of new Animal Shelter/Animal Control 1 400 000 v facili , , Addition of Emergency Operating Center at the County's 840 000 y ~ Emer enc Mana ement facili , °o Expansion of existing Public Works Administration 'o a Building to accommodate both Public Works 574,000 a ~ Administration and Oran a Public Trans ortation `y Renovation of 112 North Churton Street offices and a~ ~ Court Street Annex to allow for relocation of Economic 100,000 r' Develo ment Commission and Child Su ort offices Total Level 2 Projects 2,914,000 m ~ -o ~ Construction of building addition to Southern Human ~ ~ -°'o o . Services Center (to include the Health Department 3,000,OOD o ai `~ ~ Dental Clinic current) located in leased s ace J °` V ~ Renovation of Whiffed Human Services Center 6,700,000 Total Level 3 Projects 9,700,000 Total County Facilities 26,589,000 Orange County Library Construction of new Library, Historical Archive and 437,500 Stora a Facili Orange Enterprises Expand current facility 525,000 Compiled by Orange County Budget Office Otl/2~/2001 Needs Presented to Capital Needs Advisory Task Force Final (shown in alphabetical order) Request ~ Description ~ Amount of Funding Requested Parkland and Open Spac® University Station/New Hape Park -Acquisition of 75 to 150 acres in University Station/New Hope area (northern 1,700,000 Chapel Hill Township); could be school/park co-location Bingham District Park -Transaction costs for acquisition of 100 acres in northern Bingham Township (located on 50,000 land owned b OWASA Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail - Acquisition of several isolated strips of land that connect Town of Chapel Hill and County Parks to Triangle Land 600,000 Conservancy trails and Duke Forest open space network, tying together Town greenways system and New Ho e o ens aces "Mason Farm to Jordan Lake" Rustic Woodland Trail - Acquisition of 1-to-2 isolated strips of land to connect UNC lands at Mason Farm/Botanical Garden to Durham 100,000 County line (to pick up connection to Jordan Lake Lands Joint Town/Counfy Open Space Projects (Town Parks and/or Greenway Plans) -Acquisition space for Towns, 12~ ~ consistent with joint parkslopen space criteria, identified ~ b Tawn tans/a roved b Coun ~ Top priority NC Natural Heritage sites -Acquisition of ~ (by purchase ar easement) 500 acres in Chapel Hill, 3,250,000 ~ 0 Bin ham, Cheeks, Hillsborou hand l;no Townshi s U Top priority Unprotected Prime Forests -Acquisition of (by purchase or easement) 300 acres of unidentified and 1,800,000 un rotected rime forests Seven Mile Creek Nature Preserve -Acquisition of (by purchase or easement) 500 acres toward Seven Mile 2,500,000 Piekards Mountain Natural Area -Acquisition of 25 additional acres adjacent to Triangle Land Conservancy 125,000 easements at Pickards Mountain in Bingham Township Conservation Easements in Cane Creek, Upper Eno, Back Creek and Little River watersheds -Acquisition of conservafion easements on 90p acres of farmland per 1,400,000 year (fo protect wafer qualify and prime or threatened Chapel Hill Township District Park, Phase 1, with Carrboro -Construct 3 multipurpose playing fields (one 1,500,000 of which is a regulation soccer field), nature and environmental trails, picnic areas, and basketball courts c Compiled by Orange County Budget Office ~ 08/24/2001 Needs Presented to Capital Needs Advisory Task Force Final (shown in alphabetical order) Reguest Description Cedar Grove District Park -Construct 2 multipurpose playing fields (one of which is a regulation soccer field), la round, icnic area and nature trails Southem Community Park -Construction of community park that could serve residents in Chapel Hill, Carrboro ~ and southern Oran e ~c Fairvi®w Community Park -Construct 2 multipurpose ~ la in fields, icnic area and basketball court Efland-Cheeks Park (Phase ll) -Construct nature trails, ~ athletic fields li htin and additional Arkin ~ River Park. -Construct gazebo, walking trails and other ~, amenities on County owned land adjacent to Courthouse ~ and Eno River v Northern Chapel Hill Township Rustic Woodland Trail - Design and layout unimproved rustic woodland trail, with botanical markers for environmental ro rams Undesignated Funds -For facility development at a current or future ark facili Total Counfy Request icipal Requests Amount of Funding Requested 1,210,000 czl (2) 750,000 c2~ 300,000 1,000,000 16,285,000 Homestead Park A uatics Center 3,500,000 Chapel Hill Southern Communi Park 5;000,000 Greenwa Develo ment 2,500,000 Total Chapel Hill Requesf 11,000,000 Greenwa Develo ment 2,000,000 Carrboro Hillsborough Road Neighborhood Park (land 1,000,000 ac uisition and ark develo ment G mnasium Site Ac uisition 250,000 Smith Middle School Park 250,000 Total Carrboro Request 3,500,000 Fairview Park 4,000,000 Hillsborough Gold Park 200,000 River Park 200,000 Total Hillsborough Request 4,400,000 ~s> Total Parkland and Open Space Request 35,185,000 ~ Senior Centers YV~~VU VVi~V~~ ..., ~ ~......,, ,.....,,.,..,., ~..,,,....V...~,,~,.. ,., .,,,GN,., 6,000,000 I•iill and one located in Central/Northern Orange Countvl Compiled by Orange County Budget Office 08/24/2001 Needs Presented to Capital Needs Advisory Task Force Final (shown in alphabetical ord®r) ,= Request ~ Description I Amount of Funding Requested New Elementary School #9 -Construction of a 600 o student elementary school (located on the donated 13,556,000 c4~ .°c Meadowmont site too en Au ust 2003 c i New Elementary School #10 -Construction of a 600 ~' student elementary school (located on land recently 14,349,000 cap V 0 urchased b the Coun too en Au ust 2003 `o High School Expansions -Construction of additions at Chapel Hill High and fast Chapel Hill High tv allow for 7,$$3,000 c4> v additional 320 seats at each of the two schools Renovations to Older Schools and Facilities - Renovations include: electrical service, lighting, windows, heating, ventilation and cooling systems, 7,010,000 c4~ V ceilings, bathroom facilities, fire alarm systems, communications s stems, indoor air uali Total CHCCS Request 42,798,000 New Middle School -Purchase of land and construction 2p,000,000 of a 700 student middle school Central Office Expansion -Construct addition to ti r administrative office building that will allow staff currently 1,650,000 housed at Hillsborough Elementary School to be ~ relocated c Hillsborough Elementary Renovations -Upgrades and 'a expansion of County's year-round elementary school 1,440,000 ~ ~ ~ constructed in 1952 ~' Orange High School Renovations -Renovations ~ 0 include: cafeteria and media center upagrades, fire alarm system, ceiling, external doors, lighting (to take 950,000 place as Cedar Ridge High School opens in August Total OCS Request 24,040,000 Total School Request 66,838,000 i Total All Requests $153,574,500 i t'i Affordable Housing Task Force indicated that their alternate request is 5°~ of total bond package. cz1 Funding request included in requests from municipalities; needs identified in County's Open Space Task Force Report ~3~Town of Hillsborough request totaled $175,000 for River Park; County's Open Space Task Force Report identified $200,000 as needed to complete the project ca> Request amount rounded up to nearest $1,000 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 30, _2001 Action Agenda Item No. 4 SUBJECT: Greene Tract Work Group U date DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): - INFORMATION CONTACT: None Margaret Brown or Moses Carey TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 . Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive an update on the process to resolve the disposition of the remaining 109 acres of the Greene Tract. BACKGROUND: The solid waste management interlocal agreement signed by the County and Towns in September 1999 and amended in March 2000 lays out parameters under which the Greene Tract owners will resolve the ultimate disposition of the 109 acres of that parcel that remain in joint ownership. The agreement also addresses how the Solid Waste/Landfill Operations Enterprise Fund is to be reimbursed if the property is put to uses that are not related to the solid waste enterprise. The agreement anticipates that the Greene Tract owners will reach agreement on the disposition of the property during a bargaining period that would conclude on April 17, 2002 (the two year anniversary of the effective date upon which Orange County assumed. overall responsibility for solid waste management in Orange County). In May 2001, the BOCC appointed Commissioners Brown and Carey to serve on a Greene Tract work group with two elected officials each from the governing boards of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. After the Town of Chapel Hill makes its appointments to this work group (scheduled for August 27), the group is likely to have its initial meeting during the first week of September. Commissioners Brown and Carey, with support from staff, will briefly update the full Board on the general process and timeline they propose to pursue in developing recommendations from. the work group back to the three governing boards regarding the ultimate disposition of the 109-acre portion of the Greene Tract. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the receipt of this update. However, the County and Towns will be obliged to reimburse the Landfill Fund for the original 1984 purchase price of $608,000, plus interest, if the Greene Tract is used for purposes other than those of the solid waste system. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report on the Greene Tract work group process from Commissioners Brown and Carey.